Grape

The words inab, khamr, sakr and kasan are various names for the grape mentioned in the Qur’ān, often in combination with olive, fig, date palm and pomegranate, indicating the prominence of these fruits.

The common grape, Vitis vinifera is one of some 65 species in the genus Vitis, found in the northern hemisphere. Widely cultivated, there are over 7 million hectares of vineyards across the world, mostly for the production of wine – but grapes are also grown to be dried into raisins, processed into non-alcoholic juice, fermented into spirits, or for fresh consumption.

The grape is one of the earliest domesticated fruit crops. Archaeological records suggests that cultivation of Vitis vinifera subsp. vinifera began 6,000 to 8,000 years ago in the Near East from its wild progenitor, Vitis viniferasubsp. sylvestris.

Painted from specimens found in the Jebel Akhdar area of Oman. Grows at Kew in the Palm House.

Completed painting size: 49 x 85cm
Rhizomes, leaves, red bracts x 1.5
Watercolour on paper